1861-S $20.00 NGC AU58

You can disregard the NGC population of this date. In AU58 it is quite scarce and it is a really tough coin in Uncirculated that is nearly impossible to find above MS60 to MS61. This fresh example has a good deal of luster, minimal marks and nice medium orange-gold color. It is cleaner than usual and quite well detailed with better sharpness at the centers than what is normally seen for the date. A small grease stain at star two on the obverse is as made and shows that this piece has not been dipped. If available, an MS61 1861-S double eagle would cost in excess of $15,000 and it probably would not have much more eye appeal than this "slider." Since the beginning of 2009, only three AU58 1861-S double eagles have appeared at auction and I have had only three in inventory in close to two years.

1880-CC $5.00 PCGS AU55 CAC

A very high end coin for the grade with as much "meat" and overall eye appeal as many Carson City half eagles that I have seen in AU58 holders. The Carson City mint produced just five half eagles in the 1880's. The 1880-CC is the second most available but it is very hard to find in properly graded AU55. This example has nice medium green-gold color and it is as well struck as any 1880-CC that I have seen. A hint of orange-gold toning can be seen when the surfaces are tilted towards a light source. A few shallow marks in the left obverse field do not detract. A great looking coin that should appeal to both type collectors and date collectors.

1880-CC $5.00 PCGS AU58 CAC

Thus ultra-lustrous super-slider probably was never in circulation but it shows just a hint of friction on the high spots of the obverse; the reverse grades at least MS61 by itself. The light orange-gold obverse is clean and boldly detailed with just a few small marks in the fields; the reverse is exceptionally free of marks. The 1880-CC is a much scarcer date than the 1882-CC and it is very rare in Uncirculated with fewer than a dozen properly graded pieces known. If available, a PCGS MS61 with a CAC sticker would cost around double the price of this AU58. In my opinion, this coin is a great value and it would fit well into just about any high end collection of CC half eagles.

1851-O $20.00 PCGS EF40 CAC

If you want to buy a nice quality New Orleans double eagle and you have less than $5,000 to spend you basically have two choices: the 1851-O and the 1852-O. Of the two dates, the 1851-O is a bit harder to find. This very attractive example shows natural green-gold color with areas of reddish toning at the borders. There is some luster present and the surfaces are nice for the date and grade. A shallow mint-made planchet flake between the two final stars on the obverse does not detract and the reverse is clean, choice and lovely. You won't find many nicer EF examples of this date than the present coin.

1855-O $10.00 PCGS AU50

Despite a mintage of just 18,000 coins, the 1855-O eagle is an overlooked rarity that is scarce in all grades and genuinely rare in AU and better. This example has delightful natural green-gold color and great luster with nice surfaces. There are just a few small marks behind the neck and this is a very high end coin for the grade with the "body" of an AU53 to AU55. The stars are flat at the centers as on all known examples. I have not seen an original 1855-O eagle of this calibre in at least half a year, if not more. The last PCGS AU50 to sell at auction was Heritage 1/09: 5534 (which I purchased) and, before this, none was sold since the ANR 1/05 auction. The PCGS population figures for this date are very inflated by resubmissions and I'd venture a guess that this is one of the nicest pieces known in a PCGS AU50 holder!

1848 $5.00 PCGS AU58

This superbly toned 1848 half eagle is from an interesting group of coins recently found in the South that belonged to an Odd Fellows Home. It consisted of a small number of silver and gold coins that were dated from 1843 to 1848; both Philadelphia and New Orleans pieces were included. Due to the way it was stored, this piece has acquired vivid fuchsia hues on the obverse and reverse. I can't recall having seen a more vividly toned No Motto half eagle that had unquestionably natural color. This piece is worth a significant premium, in my opinion, for some of the most electrifying shades that I have ever observed on a U.S. gold coin!

1840 $5.00 PCGS AU50

Narrow Mill variety. Graded at PCGS' Paris offices (or "Le PCGS" as I call it...) and a lovely dark green example with a very fresh appearance. While not a really rare coin, the 1840 Narrow Mill is hard to find with natural color and it is historically significant as the first Liberty Head half eagle with the modified design.

1803/2 $5.00 PCGS AU55 CAC

BD-1, Rarity-4. I had to really "pay up" for this piece but I was happy to do so on account of its quality. It is a coin that very easily could have graded AU58 and it is as choice and original an example of this date and type as your are likely to find. The obverse shows some friction in the fields but has choice, even medium gold color; the reverse grades at least AU58+ and shows deeper green-gold hues with tinges of fiery reddish-gold in the lettering. The strike is sharp, the planchet is high quality and the eye appeal is about as high as you will find for an AU example of this type. You can save a $1,000 or so and buy a dipped-out, unattractive Bust Right half eagle or you can pay up (as I did!) and buy a really special coin with true character and great eye appeal. Your choice...

1857-S $3.00 PCGS EF45

The low mintage Philadelphia issues tend to get the attention in the Three Dollar series. But the branch mint issues from San Francisco range from slightly scarce (1856-S) to unique (1870-S) and the 1857-S is one of my favorite of the five Three Dollars issues made at this mint. Only 14,000 were struck and this date is scarce in all grades. I bought this coin due to its exceptional eye appeal for the grade. It is sharply impressed (except for some lightness on the date) and it shows very pleasing rich natural honey-gold color. This is unusual for the issue as nearly every 1857-S has been cleaned at one time. In fact, I regard the 1857-S as one of the rarest Three Dollar gold pieces with original color and surfaces and it is almost never seen in Choice EF with good eye appeal.